Context
CO.P.E. – Cooperazione Paesi Emergenti ETS is a civil society organization founded in 1983, affiliated with “FOCSIV – Volontari nel Mondo” (Federation of Christian Organizations for International Volunteer Service) and registered in the AICS list of NGOs. In full respect of local laws, culture, and traditions, and in close collaboration with local partners, CO.P.E. promotes and organizes projects in Guinea-Bissau in the agricultural, educational, and social sectors to support the self-development of the local population. CO.P.E.’s projects are characterized by the following intervention philosophy:
• Implementation of actions that directly impact the living conditions (health, nutrition, vocational training, gender equality) of the communities where they operate;
• Training of local staff to ensure the sustainable and independent management of interventions over time;
• Use of appropriate technologies that can be managed by local technicians with existing resources, without creating further dependency on foreign aid.
The ongoing projects are located in the Cacheu region of Guinea-Bissau and involve several rural communities in the Bula and Canchungo sectors. The common goal is to strengthen the resilience of rural communities, particularly women, in the Cacheu region of Guinea-Bissau, in alignment with SDGs 1, 2, 5, and 12 of the 2030 Agenda.
Responsibilities:
• Plan activities, timelines, costs, and roles of local staff and partners involved;
• Identify priorities and strategies for strengthening local management of rural agricultural, social, and economic development activities, with a focus on sustainability and future program ownership;
• Ensure compliance with local laws, customs, and traditions by all COPE staff (local and expatriate), including any volunteers in civil service;
• Develop new project proposals aligned with local needs and populations;
• Prepare narrative reports in compliance with COPE’s rules and grant agreements with donors;
• Supervise and ensure the proper execution of activities managed by local staff and partners under co-financed projects.
Duties:
• Manage and monitor the technical and administrative aspects of activities, ensuring adherence to the approved timeline and budget for ongoing projects and grants, both for CO.P.E. staff and local counterparts/partners;
• Conduct technical and administrative monitoring missions, using appropriate tools, for ongoing projects;
• Communicate with operational and institutional stakeholders involved in project/grant implementation and develop relationships with potential donors/partners;
• Support the Italy Desk in writing new project proposals and conducting feasibility studies;
• Draft interim and final narrative reports in collaboration with local staff and the CO.P.E. Italy Desk;
• Supervise and manage logistics for local staff and any expatriate volunteers in the Universal Civil Service and/or Civil Peace Corps;
• Monitor and manage the Distance Support (SAD) program in the country.
Required Skills and Qualifications:
• Degree in Economics, Agricultural Sciences, International Cooperation, or related fields;
• Proven professional experience in the field, with international NGOs and/or humanitarian organizations in project management;
• Proven experience in managing and administering rural and economic development projects, particularly in the creation/support of cooperatives and associations;
• Proven experience in PCM, particularly in the project design phase, with knowledge of the guidelines of major institutional donors (AICS, EU, EuropeAid, etc.);
• Strong computer skills (Office Excel, project management software);
• Proficiency in Portuguese and English;
• Ability to adapt and work as part of a team;
• Adherence to deadlines, procedures, and roles.
Preferred Requirements:
• Previous work experience in West Africa;
• Knowledge of French and/or Italian;
• Master’s degree and/or specialized courses in rural and economic development;
• Ability to collect contextual data and conduct feasibility studies;
• Driver’s license .
Contract Terms:
- Duration and type of contract: italian Co.Co.Co. 1 year, renewable.
- Remuneration: €20,000 gross salary per year + Insurance coverage + Round-trip airfare.
- Contract start date: May 2025.
Contacts and Application Submission Instructions:
Submit your application by 31/03/2025, indicating “Project Coordinator Guiné Bissau” in the subject line of the email and attaching your CV with authorization for the processing of personal data, as well as a motivation letter. Name the files as follows: “LASTNAME_Firstname_CV” and “LASTNAME_Firstname_Letter” and send them to: cv@cope.it.
CV and motivation letter may be written, at your discretion, in one of the following languages: Italian, Portuguese, or English.
Incomplete or incorrect applications will not be considered.
Interviews and pre-departure training: The selection process will mainly take place online, except for the final interview, which will be held in person at the COPE office in Catania (Italy). Pre-departure training will be conducted at the COPE office in Catania.
We apologize, but due to the high number of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted to participate in the selection process during the month of April. The departure is scheduled for the beginning of May.
